Your career pathway

Simon Nix, Administrative Officer, Department of Finance

What does your job involve?

We find the best laws to help the regulation of the financial markets. We work a lot with Europe to harmonise the laws across the Union.

What was the path to your job?

I began studying Political Science and Sociology with Classical Civilisations in NUI Galway, and then I followed it up with a Law degree. I don’t have a financial background at all; I’ve been learning since I’ve arrived!

What is the most important trait?

Being able to communicate and be confident in your ideas. If you’re in a negotiation setting it’s important to put across the national interest. The ability to write well is important as you’re going to be doing a lot of reports and research, making political analysis.

What other skills do you need?

Decision making. An ability to analyse complex materials is quite important, but something you can learn on the job.

What’s the best thing about your job?

We promote stability, integrity and investor protection. What I do affects the people I live with and work around every day because it makes their investments safer.

Do you have any advice for students?

The public sector runs competitions every year so keep watching for them. Networking is very important. It helps you develop your interests because you hear about what others are doing. I really regret not joining the literary and debating societies. Being able to put out your arguments and opinions is very important.